Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, clinical features and disease impact in South Africa, a setting with high HIV prevalence
- Funded by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Wellcome Trust
- Total publications:0 publications
Grant number: unknown
Grant search
Key facts
Disease
COVID-19Start & end year
20202022Known Financial Commitments (USD)
$2,484,600Funder
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Wellcome TrustPrincipal Investigator
PendingResearch Location
South AfricaLead Research Institution
National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory ServiceResearch Priority Alignment
N/A
Research Category
Pathogen: natural history, transmission and diagnostics
Research Subcategory
Immunity
Special Interest Tags
N/A
Study Type
Clinical
Clinical Trial Details
Not applicable
Broad Policy Alignment
Pending
Age Group
Unspecified
Vulnerable Population
Other
Occupations of Interest
Unspecified
Abstract
Factors prevalent in Africa such as malnutrition, HIV, tuberculosis and limited access to healthcare, among others, may impact both transmission dynamics and disease progression associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the burden on the healthcare system and society.We aim to characterize key transmissibility and clinical features of and the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 as well as to enhance surveillance for COVID-19, identify groups at increased risk of severe illness, estimate the disease burden of medically- and non-medically attended mild, severe-non-fatal and fatal illness and forecast the impact of the outbreak on the healthcare system and the society in South Africa. Particular emphasis will be given to HIV-infected individuals. The aims will be achieved through the implementation of shedding and household transmission studies, collection of sequential serum samples, enhanced facility-based (hospitals and clinics) surveillance among patients with mild and severe respiratory illness in well-established population-based surveillance sites where incidence can be calculated, and healthcare utilization and serological surveys in selected communities. In addition, digital surveillance (based on Google searches) will be used to complement virological surveillance and nowcasting and short-term forecasting (up to 4 weeks) will be implemented over the duration of the epidemic.